Device for measuring points in space

Abstract

A device for measuring spatial points includes an ergonomic manual handle for facilitating efficient three-dimensional measurement using data processing.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for measuring spatial points, comprising:
 a housing including a bottom side fastenable to a tripod for rotation about a rotational axis, and a distance measuring unit positioned at a radial distance from the rotational axis and pivotable about a pivot axis oriented at a right angle to the rotational axis, the housing further including first and second handle sections provided on respective sides of the housing about the rotational axis, the first handle section rigidly connected to the housing and the second handle section pivotably connected to the housing via a pivot joint, the distance measuring unit integrated into the second handle section, and at least one of the first and second handle sections including at least one measuring control element with each measuring control element coupled to a preprocessing unit operable to assign data to the spatial points, further comprising a swivel encoder for detecting the pivot position of the second handle section. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a camera integrated into the second handle section. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivot locking unit operable to lock, in a transport and mounting position, the second handle section against pivoting. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second handle sections are each disposed in flush alignment with the housing in the transport and mounting position. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein a top side of the housing, disposed opposite from the bottom side, is oriented at an angle with respect to the bottom side. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second handle sections each include end sections bent in a direction pointing toward the bottom side of the housing. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a screen disposed between the handle sections, the screen disposed on a top side of the housing opposite from the bottom side of the housing and coupled to the preprocessing unit. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second handle sections includes at least one measuring control element. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one measuring control element is a rotary pushbutton disposed in a respective handle section. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one measuring control element is a push switch disposed in a respective handle section. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotary encoder for detecting the rotational position of the housing. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotary drive with which the housing is rotatable and a swivel drive with which the pivotable handle section is pivotable. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring control element is operable to assign additional data to spatial points in the preprocessing unit.